Busselton - East

Population growth drivers in Busselton - East are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Busselton - East stands at approximately 10,249 in May 2026. This represents a gain of 890 residents (9.5%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 9,359 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 10,199 alongside 487 validated new addresses identified after the Census. This population level results in a density of 125 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and potential for growth. The 9.5% growth rate since the 2021 census paced ahead of the national benchmark (9.3%), positioning the area as a regional growth leader. The expansion was largely propelled by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 41.4% of the population increase, though interstate migration and natural increase also made positive contributions.

AreaSearch implements projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, utilising 2022 as the baseline year. For regions lacking direct coverage, and to calculate growth beyond 2032, cohort-specific growth rates from the 2023 ABS projections for the Greater Capital Region (using 2022 data) are applied. Looking ahead, regional areas are anticipated to grow faster than the median capital city rate, with Busselton - East projected to add 1,515 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP figures, representing a 14.3% expansion over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Busselton - East among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Busselton - East averages approximately 115 residential building approvals annually, with 576 homes approved during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 84 recorded during FY-26. With an average of 1.4 new residents added per constructed home over the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, the local market exhibits a healthy equilibrium between supply and demand, fostering stable market conditions. New dwellings carry an average build value of $375,000, which sits slightly above the regional average and reflects a focus on premium construction. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $40.7 million during the current financial year, pointing to strong local business investment.

Busselton - East generates 11.0% less building activity per capita than the Rest of WA, yet it places in the 92nd percentile of all areas nationwide, with construction activity accelerating in recent times. This intensity is far higher than the national baseline, reflecting robust developer confidence. Recent residential builds consist of 99.0% detached houses and 1.0% semi-detached options or units, maintaining the traditional low-density profile suited for families wanting space. The metric of 71 people per approval characterizes Busselton - East as a growing area.

Demographic projections indicate that Busselton - East will add 1,465 residents by 2041, measured from the latest quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, the supply of new housing should easily satisfy demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially enabling growth to exceed current forecasts.

Busselton - East has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in infrastructure, primary construction projects, and zoning updates. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 19 key projects expected to influence the local area. Significant initiatives include the Busselton Health Campus Expansion, Home HQ Busselton, the City of Busselton Local Planning Scheme No. 22, and Brown Street Busselton, with details on the most relevant works provided below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Busselton - East maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Busselton - East boasts a highly capable labor pool, where manufacturing and industrial industries hold significant weight, alongside an unemployment rate of just 3.1% and an estimated employment growth of 0.9% during the previous year. By March 2026, the number of employed residents stood at 5,281, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.4% beneath the Regional WA average of 3.5%, and workforce participation aligning closely with the Regional WA figure of 65.6%. Census data indicates that only 7.4% of residents worked from home, a figure that should be viewed in light of the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.

Local employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Accommodation & food is especially prominent, showing a concentration 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 2.6% of local employment, compared to 9.3% in Regional WA. A ratio of 0.6 local jobs per resident at the time of the Census indicates a stronger-than-average level of local employment opportunities.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data by AreaSearch indicates that the twelve-month span experienced a 0.9% rise in employment and a matching 0.9% increase in the labour force, resulting in unemployment remaining relatively stable. In contrast, Regional WA witnessed a 0.1% drop in employment, a 0.3% expansion of the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Insights regarding future demand in Busselton - East can be gained from the national employment forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and have been overlaid onto the local employment profile to project growth trajectories. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth rates vary considerably. When these industry-specific forecasts are applied to the employment composition of Busselton - East, local employment is expected to rise by 6.0% over five years and by 12.8% over ten years. It is important to note that this represents a basic weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Based on AreaSearch's compilation of the latest postcode-level ATO statistics released for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the Busselton - East SA2 recorded a median income of $51,867 and an average income of $69,790. This compares to regional WA averages of $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for a 10.93% increase in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 stand at approximately $57,536 for the median and $77,418 for the average. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes are relatively modest, positioning the area between the 26th and 31st percentiles. The primary income cohort is the $1,500 - 2,999 range, containing 29.5% of residents (3,023 people), which aligns with the regional distribution where 31.1% fall into this bracket. Affordability pressures are significant, leaving residents with only 82.7% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 25th percentile, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 4th decile for income.

Busselton - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

According to the latest Census, the housing stock in Busselton - East consisted of 89.7% separate houses and 10.3% semi-detached properties, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership is higher than the regional average, with 37.4% of homes owned outright, while 35.2% are mortgaged and 27.4% are rented. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,733 is higher than the Regional WA average of $1,560, and the median weekly rent of $360 compares to the regional figure of $265. Nationally, Busselton - East's mortgage payments are below the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are lower than the national median of $375.

Busselton - East has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 71.3% of all households, consisting of couples without children at 34.6%, couples with children at 25.2%, and single-parent homes at 10.6%. The remaining 28.7% are non-family households, with single-person households at 25.9% and group households at 2.7%. The median household size of 2.4 people is slightly below the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Busselton - East fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The local population presents low rates of higher education, with 18.0% holding a university degree compared to the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear focus area for future educational programs. Bachelor degrees are held by 13.0% of residents, while postgraduate degrees and graduate diplomas each account for 2.5%. Vocational and technical training is common, with 41.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (30.2%).

Enrolment rates are high, with 26.1% of the population participating in formal education. This group comprises 9.6% in primary school, 9.1% in high school, and 2.0% in higher education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The local transport network features 59 stops serving bus routes in Busselton - East. These stops are served by 4 routes, generating 341 passenger trips per week. Transit access is low, with homes situated an average of 1077 meters from the nearest stop. Given the residential profile, commuting is mostly outbound, with private vehicles accounting for 91% of trips. Average vehicle ownership is 1.5 cars per household. A low 7.4% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which was likely influenced by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Buses run at an average frequency of 48 trips daily across the network, representing about 5 passenger services weekly for each stop.

Busselton - East's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Health indicators in Busselton - East reflect favorable trends across mortality rates and chronic illnesses, with low rates of common health conditions observed in both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is held by approximately 54% of the population (~5,524 people), slightly ahead of the average SA2 area, compared to 56.4% across Regional WA.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues, affecting 9.6% and 9.3% of residents respectively. Conversely, 65.0% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Residents of working age exhibit higher-than-average rates of chronic conditions. Seniors aged 65 and older represent 22.9% of the local population (2,343 people), exceeding the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Seniors in the area display strong health profiles, with national health rankings aligned with general population trends.

Busselton - East ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Busselton - East shows lower levels of cultural diversity, with 78.5% of the population born in Australia, 87.9% holding citizenship, and 93.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 46.2% of residents. Islam is the most overrepresented non-Christian faith, accounting for 1.0% of the population compared to 0.8% across Regional WA.

In terms of parent country of birth, the main ancestries represented are English (36.1%), Australian (28.2%), and Scottish (8.0%). Other notable ethnic representation includes South Australian at 0.7% of the population (compared to 0.6% regionally), Dutch at 1.6% (compared to 1.5%), and New Zealand at 0.8% (compared to 0.9%).

Busselton - East hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age of Busselton - East is 45 years, which is older than the Regional WA average of 40 and the national median of 38 years. The population has a high proportion of 65 - 74 year-olds (13.0%), while the 5 - 14 cohort is smaller (11.3%) than the regional average. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age cohort grew from 11.2% to 12.7%, and the 25 to 34 group increased from 10.0% to 11.2%. During the same timeframe, the 65 to 74 group fell from 14.4% to 13.0%, and the 5 to 14 group decreased from 12.6% to 11.3%. Projections for 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 43% (adding 490 people to reach 1,637), while declines are anticipated in the 15 to 24 and 75 to 84 age groups.